Aug 4, 2011

Pik Botha and His Times, by Theresa Papenfus

The extensive biography of Roelof Frederik “Pik” Botha, Foreign Minister of South Africa during the apartheid era, has been written by Theresa Papenfus. Pik Botha and His Times is published by Litera, a new independent publishing house started by Papenfus.

From the book’s blurb:

A biography of Pik Botha, one of South Africa’s most colourful public figures, and at a stage the longest serving Foreign Minister in the world.

About the author

Theresa Papenfus was born in Villiersdorp in the Western Cape and attended schools in Montagu and Worcester. After completing her studies at the University of Stellenbosch she worked for Beeld in Pretoria as a reporter.

As a young mother she undertook freelance work and found time for her own writing. She joined the publishers J.L. van Schaik as an editor, and later headed the general books section. In 2000 she started her own publishing business, Litera Publications.

Cape Town - Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Pik Botha has said that South Africans should start talking again about the state of the nation to find solutions to its problems.

Botha spoke at the Wordsworth book shop at the V&A Waterfront at the launch of a new book about his life entitled Pik Botha en sy Tyd, written by Theresa Papenfus.

He also said that civil organisations aught to play a bigger role in society. He then mentioned that he is aware of a number of willing white farmers who offer help to black farmers, but who are never called upon.

"The same applies to teachers. There are thousands of white teachers who would be willing to return to the profession. I don't even want to speak of the problems with the health care system. People wait from early in the morning until late in the afternoon to receive care. We must start thinking about liaising - to return to the civil terrain in order to have conversations and offer help to each other."

'Work together'

The success of South Africa's hosting of the 2010 soccer world cup proved that we can thrive. "We can achieve success on all fronts if all – black, white, coloured and Indian work together to achieve that goal."

Botha initially wanted to write the book himself, but realised that he would be tempted to omit less flattering aspects of his life.

"She (Papenfus) was so determined, that's why I agreed. It is a factual account of the country's historical events that eventually lead to the constitutional order we have today."

Guest speaker at the event, Professor Jakes Gerwel, said that "books such as these shed light on the complexity of the creation of South Africa and the various contributions that lead to that creation".